Premier Sevens season opens in Austin on Saturday

The 2023 Premier Rugby Sevens season opens at Q2 Stadium in Austin on Saturday. Four teams will be competing in the first of two Eastern Conference tournaments, the second to take place next month in Pittsburgh. The Western Conference will begin next weekend in Minneapolis.

Numerous internationals adorn the women’s rosters including four members of the World Sevens Series champions New Zealand. Manaia Nuku and Stacey Waaka will play for the Locals, with Tysha Ikenasio and Alena Saili suiting up for The Team. Ruby Tui has also been signed but will not appear in Austin.

Other notables are former World Rugby Player of the Year Magali Harvey and several USA Eagles, among them Alena Olsen and Naya Tapper. Japan’s Mele Kagawa, Mexico’s Jenn Salomón, France select Meg Mambé, and Philippines representative Erica Legaspi are also taking part.

With the Major League Rugby season still ongoing the men’s sides are less experienced. Fiji star Alasio Naduva and New Zealand pair Rhodes Featherstone and Kitiona Vai are the notables from the World Series. Kenya’s Benson is also competing, while former US Eagles captain Ben Pinkelman is making his return to the pitch after a two-year hiatus due to a chronic back injury.

The tournament kicks off at 4pm local time, 5pm Eastern, 2pm Pacific. CBS Sports Network will broadcast the first four matches with the other four streaming live on YouTube. Those located in Europe can watch on DAZN. A full schedule can be seen here.

 

WOMEN’S ROSTERS

HEADLINERS
Lizzie Gibson, Alena Olsen (USA), Jenn Salomón (Mexico), Naya Tapper (USA), Alyssa Porter, Antea Dedic, Laura Hurff, Sarah Curvin, Magali Harvey (Canada), Hali Deters, Monique Coffey, Scout Cheeks
Coaches: Andrew Locke & Lauren Barber

LOCALS
MarCaya Bailous, Tahlia Brody, Saher Hamdan (USA), Mele Kagawa (Japan), Amy Naber-Bonte (USA), Manaia Nuku (New Zealand), Jetta Owens, Megan Pinson-Neyen, Shamira Robles, Stacey Waaka (New Zealand), Neariah Weathers (USA), Nina Wilson
Coaches: Tiff Fa’ae’e & T Fletcher

STEELTOES
Kayla Canett (USA), Autumn Czaplicki (USA), Brooklynn Feasby, Sofie Fella, Sara Kaljuvee (Canada), Salome Lewis, Meg Mambé (France), Sophie Ragg, Sam Sullivan (USA), Lauren Thunen (USA), Camile White, Abbie Winchester
Coaches: Josie Ziluca & Emily Record

TEAM
Jennine Detiveaux (USA), Morgan Freeman, Lizzy Geary, Tysha Ikenasio (New Zealand), Darian Lovelace, Leti Hingano, Erica Legaspi (Philippines), Madison Ohmann-Wilson, Kimber Rozier (USA), Megan Sanders (USA), Alena Saili (New Zealand), Telesi Uhatafe
Coaches: Lauren Trout & John Coumbe-Lilley

 

MEN’S ROSTERS

HEADLINERS
Dom Bailey, Samuel Biutu, Will Chevalier (USA), Tommy Clark, Jasper Green, Paul Habeeb, Max Nauci, Lucas Scheck, Kitiona Vai (New Zealand), Sam Walsh (USA), Coleson Warner
Coaches: Tim Stanfill & DTH van der Merwe

LOCALS
Orrin Bizer, Keelin Coyle, Grayson Haynes (Barbados), Hugh Johnston, Isaia Kruse, Cody Melphy (USA), Alasio Naduva (Fiji), Seimou Smith, Brock Stinson, Eric Sykes, Lorenzo Villani, Josateki Vosalevu
Coaches: Tui Osborne & Ethan Pougnet

STEELTOES
Mickey Bateman, Malik Bryant, Shawn Clark, Lewis Gray, Ethan Hager, David Hightower, Ben Pinkelman (USA), Aki Raymond, Misha Shorin, Nicholas Smith, Rienk van der Ploeg, Alex Wormer
Coaches: Jason Kelly & Steve LaPorta

TEAM
Chris Aurich, Rhodes Featherstone (New Zealand), Craig Hunt, Amir Lancaster, Line Latu, Oliver Mackenzie, Jerome Nale (USA), Da’Quan Patton, Benson Salem (Kenya), Jake Soriano, Timon Vijn
Coaches: Troy Hall & Kurt Morath